Madam Ye looked at her daughter with a helpless expression. She walked a few steps before she couldn't help but nag, "It's just that you're kind-hearted and don't hold grudges against them. That couple stole your thunder, and you're still so easy to talk to..."
Madam Ye chattered softly, while Ye Anran simply smiled and said nothing.
Sometimes, to win people's favor, one had to be magnanimous.
What she wanted now was to win people's favor.
"Uncle Lu, Auntie Lu, Nuannuan, you're here." Ye Anran greeted them with a gentle smile.
The moment Lu Sicheng saw Ye Anran, his gaze flickered. These eyes seemed somewhat familiar. Had he seen her somewhere before?
Ye Anran had gone abroad from a young age, so he shouldn't have met her, yet there was a sense of familiarity.
Lu Sicheng nodded slightly, "Hello, Miss Ye!"
Jin Yan and Jiang Nuannuan also greeted them with smiles.
"Nuannuan, thank you for coming. And who is this...?" Ye Anran's smiling gaze fell on Mu Jiuchen.
Jiang Nuannuan saw that Ye Anran was feigning ignorance, so she indulged her vanity and introduced them separately. She held Mu Jiuchen's arm and smiled as she introduced him, "Miss Ye, this is my husband, Mu Jiuchen."
"Oh! So it's Ninth Master!" A hint of a smile flashed in Ye Anran's eyes. "Hello, Ninth Master, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
Mu Jiuchen nodded indifferently, not saying a word.
Ye Anran didn't mind; Mu Jiuchen was like this with everyone.
With Mu Jiuchen acting this way towards Ye Anran, no one else would find it odd.
She familiarly linked her arm with Jiang Nuannuan's and said with a smile, "Nuannuan, I'm really happy you could come. The dance will start soon over there, let's go and have some fun."
The two women, dressed in the same color, stood together, each as stunning as the other.
Her mother would have to accompany the other madams, so she'd bring Jiang Nuannuan along to keep her company.
Tonight, there was a good show planned. She wondered if she would get to see it.
Jiang Nuannuan looked at the hand linked in her arm and felt that Ye Anran was somewhat unusual tonight. This was only their second meeting, and they weren't this familiar.
Yet, Ye Anran's actions made it seem as if they had been good friends for many years.
Jiang Nuannuan looked at her apologetically, "Miss Ye, I can't dance."
As soon as Jiang Nuannuan finished speaking, the young ladies looked at her with surprise. As Mu Jiuchen's wife, not being able to dance was a disgrace to Mu Jiuchen.
Ye Anran was also taken aback, as if Jiang Nuannuan's statement "I can't dance" was something earth-shattering.
On the other side, a woman in a red gown sneered, "Mrs. Mu must be joking. A woman of Ninth Master should be talented and proficient in everything from zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
Jiang Nuannuan lowered her head and smiled faintly. This scene was quite similar to the banquet she had attended at her home in Nanzhou when she first returned.
Before Jiang Nuannuan could speak, Mu Jiuchen looked at the woman in red and said, "My wife, Mu Jiuchen's wife, does not need the superficial talents of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. My wife, Mu Jiuchen's wife, is a hundred times more excellent than women who are proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
Everyone: "..."
Such a protective Mu Jiuchen was domineering and enviable.
Jiang Nuannuan's eyes flickered. In his eyes, she was so outstanding.
The atmosphere became somewhat stiff, and no one spoke.
Ye Anran's eyes flickered, and she asked, "Then what can Nuannuan do?"
Jiang Nuannuan replied frankly, "I can cook!"
This statement made everyone stunned again.
Mu Jiuchen wanted to laugh. His wife's answer felt familiar.
He felt like he had heard it somewhere before!
"Hehe..." Ye Anran looked at Jiang Nuannuan with a smiling, spring-like expression that could make any man's heart flutter.
"Nuannuan, I just like your straightforward personality. If you can't do it, you can't. As women, as long as we have a man who loves us, it's enough." Ye Anran said this with great spirit.
Many people chuckled in agreement. It was indeed true; with a man who loved them, everything else could be overlooked.
This unexpected situation was thus smoothed over.
With Mu Jiuchen present, many young ladies from prominent families dared not casually provoke Jiang Nuannuan.
They could only follow Jiang Nuannuan, waiting for an opportunity to speak.
Mu Jiuchen felt unaccustomed to Jiang Nuannuan being taken away by Ye Anran.
Lu Sicheng took him to meet some of his old friends. After all, he was a capable son-in-law, and introducing him brought him great honor.
He generally didn't care about such things, but when encountered, he was still happy to have influential people around.
Meanwhile, Madam Ye took Jin Yan to chat with other madams.
Jin Yan was a lady from a prominent family with noble status, so Madam Ye could only hover around Jin Yan.
In Modu, many influential families had business dealings with the Lu family. Even if she was jealous of Jin Yan, she wouldn't dare to fall out with Jin Yan in such a setting, as it would displease everyone.
Jin Yan knew her daughter was capable, but seeing Ye Anran's unusual familiarity, she was still somewhat worried about her daughter.
After all, the general environment was like this: no matter how capable or well-born you were, as long as you had a flaw, you would become a target for others.
Madam Ye noticed Jin Yan's worry and smiled, "Alright, Mrs. Lu, you don't need to worry. Nuannuan lived in Jinshi before and has experienced such grand occasions. Just let the young people have their fun; she won't be bullied."
Jin Yan was very unhappy upon hearing this. Madam Ye's every word seemed to belittle her daughter, Jin Yan.
She smiled back and retorted, "Madam Ye is joking. I'm not worried that my daughter will be stage-shy or be bullied. I'm worried that your daughter will be bullied by my daughter, after all, my daughter is not someone who takes things lying down."
Madam Ye: "..." Her daughter would never be bullied!
She cast a sideways glance at Jin Yan and said unhurriedly, "Oh, yes. Your daughter was taken away at birth and picked up some bad habits. She can't stand to hear anyone speak ill of her, so she's bound to have a temper. But in a scene like this, Nuannuan should have a sense of proportion."
Jin Yan: "..." Did this woman want to fight her here tonight?
Thinking about it, and unwilling to back down, she smiled widely and retorted, "Madam Ye, I heard that abroad is very liberal. Look at your daughter's neckline; it can barely cover those two budding peaches. You say she has to learn foreign women and show off so much."
Madam Ye's heart ached instantly, and her blood pressure soared.
Jin Yan's words were completely inconsiderate. When she came over earlier, she had warned herself not to argue with Jin Yan. They hadn't even talked for a few minutes before they were already clashing.
Madam Ye retorted with a pale voice, "She grew up abroad, so she's used to it. Besides, young girls on the street are all dressed like this now, what's so strange about it? Come on, let's stop talking about the children. I'll take you to meet Madam Wang."
Jin Yan secretly glared at her. Was it her fault for being like this?
It was she who had always looked down on her daughter.
Jin Yan looked back at her daughter. Seeing that she was fine, she followed Madam Ye.